Bangladesh to host FAO Asia-Pacific regional conference for the 1st time on Mar 8-11
Bangladesh will host the 36th Regional Conference -- for Asia and the Pacific -- of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), for the first time since it joined the organisation in 1973.
At a virtual press conference today, Allan Dow, FAO Asia-Pacific's head of communications, made the announcement.
Due to the Covid-19 situation, the conference will be held as a hybrid event at the InterContinental Dhaka, with some participants joining via videoconferencing.
A total of 46 countries from across the region are expected to attend, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina giving a virtual address on behalf of the host country on March 10.
On March 10 and 11, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque will preside over the conference. Qu Dongyu, the director-general of the FAO, is also expected to attend.
The FAO regional conference is a formal gathering of member countries' agriculture ministers and other senior officials to discuss country and regional priorities and pressing issues in the region, such as the impact of Covid-19, the state of agriculture, natural resource management, food security, and nutrition.
It's also a chance to highlight partnerships, innovation, and digital technologies that are helping to improve food security and nutrition in the region, as well as regional and global policy and regulatory issues.
FAO is a United Nations specialised agency in charge of international hunger relief efforts.
The last regional conference was held in Bhutan virtually.
The first regional conference was held in Bangalore, India in 1953.
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